68 Mary Somerville. 



men rose against their officers, took the command, 

 and ship after ship returned to England, leaving 

 only a frigate and the "Venerable," commanded by 

 Admiral Duncan, with my father as his flag-captain. 

 To deceive the Dutch, they continued to make 

 signals, as if the rest of the fleet were in the offing, till 

 they could return to England ; when, without delay, 

 Admiral Duncan and my father went alone on board 

 each ship, ordered the men to arrest the ringleaders, 

 which was done, and the fleet immediately returned 

 to its station off the Texel. At last, on the morning 

 of the llth October, 1797, the Dutch fleet came out 

 in great force, and formed in line of battle ; that is, 

 with their broadsides towards our ships. Then 

 Admiral Duncan said to my father, " Fairfax, what 

 shall we do 1" " Break their line, sir, and draw up 

 on the other side, where they will not be so well 

 prepared/' " Do it, then, Fairfax." So my father 

 signalled accordingly. The circumstances of the 

 battle, which was nobly fought on both sides, are 

 historical. Nine ships of the line and two frigates 

 were taken, and my father was sent home to an- 

 nounce the victory to the Admiralty. The rejoicing 

 was excessive ; every town and village was illumi- 

 nated ; and the Administration, relieved from the 

 fear of a revolution, continued more confidently its 

 oppressive measures. 



